Abstract
Objectives. The purpose of this study was to explore the association of meaning-making with psychological adjustment to bereavement among mothers of children who had undergone haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Design. A prospective research design was used. Regression analyses were conducted to determine the relations between pre-bereavement variables (distress, searching for meaning, and finding meaning) and distress post-bereavement. Methods. Thirty-five mothers of children who had undergone HSCT were interviewed at the time of their child's HSCT and 3 months post-bereavement. Results. Mothers who reported searching for meaning at HSCT reported greater post-bereavement distress, and mothers who reported finding meaning at HSCT reported less post-bereavement distress. Distress at HSCT and the number of days between the time of death and the post-bereavement time point were also found to be significant predictors of post-bereavement distress. Conclusions. This study provides partial support for the role of meaning in adjustment to loss.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 419-433 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | British Journal of Health Psychology |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Applied Psychology